Elizabeth McQueen,
Happy Doing What We're Doing

Label: Freedom Records
Year: 2005

(3 out of 5)

Elizabeth McQueen has become a fixture on the Austin bar scene, so perhaps it's only natural for her to pay homage to artists with similar backgrounds. Maybe Doug Sahm, Marcia Ball, or Dale Watson.

But when McQueen thinks of roots music, she thinks on a global scale.

On Happy Doing What We're Doing, McQueen and the Firebrands pay tribute to Brtain's short-lived "pub rock" movement of the 1970s.

What is pub rock? Perhaps it's best to cite McQueen's explanation: It's a scene that started in England in the 70's that consisted of dudes playing roots rock in bars (or in Brit-speak, pubs). Most rock and roll history books say it's the older brother of punk rock. And it is. But it was also the starting point for a ton of power pop guys.

McQueen and the Firebrands provide upbeat covers of early tunes from Elvis Costello ("Almost Blue"), Squeeze ("Annie Get Your Gun"), Nick Lowe ("When I Write the Book" and "Happy Doing What We're Doing"), and more.

The Firebrands are augmented by an impressive roster that includes Dave Sanger and John Michael Whitby of Asleep at the Wheel, Chris Miller of Dave Alvin & The Guilty Men, and fellow bar fixtures The Conrads.

The songs are fun and sometimes funky, just like McQueen herself. But I'd have to imagine they work better in a pub somewhere on Sixth Street.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

March 21, 2005